Where Does Our Body Heat Come From?
Mystery Hour Question
Where does the heat come from in our bodies? Is it from a central point and then carried around by our blood, or is it heated across the body?
Steve, Twickenham
Answer
** Definitive **
Name: Richard, A4
Qualification: A-level biology
Answer: Your body has exothermic chemical reactions going on in various organs. A by-product of those chemical reactions is heat is given off and the blood absorbs the heat and re-distributes it amongst the organs. This evens out the spread of the heat and ensures all our body is the same temperature.
** Even more definitive **
Name: Peter, Ruislip
Qualification: Science degree
Answer: Every cell in the body produces heat as they burn up energy. Some organs will be on more than others, such as the brain, or muscles if you are exercising, therefore they get hotter. This needs to be spread around the body and this is done by the blood, which heats some organs and cools others.
